Groupon Guide

The Mission district is one of San Francisco’s premier dining destinations. Original occupant The Slanted Door has long moved away, but Delfina and Foreign Cinema have plenty of company today. Just how popular is dining in the Mission district? In the fall of 2012 it was reported that 1000 restaurant seats were added in a three-block area by 16 restaurant openings in an eighteen-month period.
Many Mission places are so popular that they are hard to get into; for example, Flour + Water typically requires 60 day advance reservations and is infamous for having turned Steve Jobs away. This is our list of five fine dining establishments in the Mission that don’t require advance planning and often have same-day reservations available.
Locanda (557 Valencia St. | http://locandasf.com/)
Chef Anthony Strong creates excellent Roman-inspired fare in the heart of the Mission at this Delfina team destination. It just might have overtaken its older sister in terms of popularity, due largely to their excellent cocktail program. The daily-changing menu is comprised of antipasti, snacks, pasta and grill specials. Fried foods are a Roman specialty, and their Jewish-style artichoke splayed out like a sunflower has become a fixture. Make a point to start with the cheese-stuffed fried Castelveltrano green olives prior to any of their excellent pasta or grill dishes.
Commonwealth (2224 Mission St. | http://www.commonwealthsf.com/)
Chef Jason Fox and Chef de Cuisine Ian Muntzert are putting together some unique market-driven menus that change frequently, evolving through the seasons. Their 6-course Chef’s Tasting Menu is just $75 -- it is a wonder that they can offer such a complex tour for so little. Plus, $10 from every prix fixe is donated to a local charity. Also available is the a la carte Modern American menu, where most items are priced between $12-$16, featuring pristine seasonal ingredients all artistically plated.
Range (842 Valencia St. | http://www.rangesf.com/)
This is the epitome of a great neighborhood restaurant: a bar serving amazing artisanal cocktails, a classy candlelit interior, a smart seasonally-oriented menu and efficient service. The focused menu of ten items offers something for every palate, with fish, poultry, meat and vegetarian items. Their daily aperitif hour runs from 5-6pm, serving low-proof sherry and vermouth cocktails along with bar bites like their excellent chicken liver mousse. Certainly worth checking out to get the appetite going for the rest of the evening!
St. Vincent (1270 Valencia St. | http://www.stvincentsf.com/)
Owner David Lynch, often referred to as a Sommelier’s Sommelier, had a compelling restaurant concept and named it after the patron saint of vintners. Every non-sparkling wine on the extensive list can be ordered as a half-bottle, giving the opportunity to explore and greater flexibility in pairing with courses. This is not your typical wine bar, as Executive Chef Bill Niles’ seasonal menu complements the diverse offering of wine and craft beers. Starters can include pickled beets or house-made pretzels, but make sure to save room for the spicy fried chicken –- and yes, the server will know exactly which wine to serve with that.
Lolinda (2518 Mission St | http://lolindasf.com/)
This Argentinian-inspired Steakhouse by the Beretta and Starbelly team transformed the cavernous Medjool space into a dining mecca. Thanks to the excellent bar program, a cocktail, wine or beer pairs easily with the Latin-infused menu, which is broken up into cold and hot starters, mid-size dishes and proteins cooked a la vara (on a stick), asador (grilled) or as full-sized platos. It’s a great place for a date night, but come with a larger group to share more Latin flavors.

Hayes Valley has traditionally been an area known for boutique shopping, but is now emerging as a top foodie spot in San Francisco. Just a short walk from City Hall, Hayes Valley has a more small-town feel with a hipster-vibe than the sprawl of downtown. You can easily spend the afternoon here enjoying a good meal, window shopping, and drinking at outdoor beer gardens without having to push through the crowds or climb steep hills.
Here are 5 foodie spots in Hayes Valley that are not to be missed when visiting this area!
#1: Smitten Ice Cream Parlor. This is not your typical ice cream shop! Handmade ice cream is churned on the spot here using liquid nitrogen, which is quite a sight to be seen! Flavors are unique such as Earl Grey with Milk Chocolate, Brown Sugar with Cinnamon Shortbread, and Strawberry White Balsamic.
#2: Absinthe Brasserie and Bar. A classic French restaurant that is a must-visit for brunch: they have a raw oyster bar, freshly baked french pastries, and the most delicious cheese selection around! Be sure to make a reservation before you arrive.
#3: Chantal Guillon. Authentic French Macarons, made fresh daily. They have more flavors of macarons than you can imagine, and some flavors are only available in certain seasons (e.g. Cherry Chocolate in the winter, Raspberry Lemon Verbena in the summer)
#4: Zuni Cafe. The ultimate sidewalk cafe, with indoor and outdoor seating. An eclectic, Mediterranean inspired restaurant, Zuni has something for everyone. The brick oven chicken (for two) is the "stuff of dreams," and the oyster bar is to die for. Upon walking in through the glass doors, you’ll feel at home in the loft-like, two-story space with mahogany wood tables and a lively bar. The eclectic ambiance and friendly wait staff makes for a wonderful dining experience.
#5: Biergarten. Drink up and gorge on German food in this outdoor restaurant. They will usually have about 6-9 different beers on to try, as well as German bar bites for a meal (pork belly sliders, deviled eggs, pretzels, potato salad, and bratwurst to name a few). It's a great way to spend a sunny weekend afternoon in SF. Be sure to get there early if you want to get a table -- it gets crowded fast!

The San Francisco Peninsula and South Bay, with their strong Japanese populations, have long had a multitude of sushi and izakaya (small plates) restaurants; but the last two years have brought even more Japanese eateries to San Francisco. Many serve traditional Japanese plates such as edamame, kushiyaki (skewered grilled items), karaage (marinated fried chicken) and udon or ramen soups along with sushi and sashimi. The Mission already has its share: Minako, Blowfish, Cha-Ya (vegetarian), Nihon Whiskey Lounge, Ken Ken Ramen and Nombe, to name a few. But the three newcomers below have made this neighborhood a destination for an authentic Japanese dining experience. Is the Mission turning Japanese? We really think so.
Maruya (2931 16th Street)
Opened last October, Maruya is the newest fine dining Japanese establishment in the Mission. Chef/Owner Masa-san (Masaki Sasaki) and Executive Chef Hide-san (Hidebumi Sueyoshi) hold court behind the case-less cypress bar that centers the tranquil, wood-paneled restaurant. Both chefs have extensive experience with stints in Tokyo, New York, Las Vegas and San Francisco, garnering four-star reviews along the way. Top quality pristine ingredients are featured in the raw fish and cooked items, many with minimalist Japanese sensibilities of showcasing the primary component in a beautiful presentation. Do yourself a favor and let the chefs guide you through the experience. Sit back, relax and enjoy the Omakase (chef’s choice) menu by Masa-san, which includes a mixture of cooked and sushi items (including an amazing dashi-poached tomato). Or, go with Hide-san’s sushi-centric menu where each piece is properly seasoned and served one piece at a time on top of a ti leaf (no soy sauce necessary here). With seating for only 25, it would be wise to make reservations in advance.
Izakaya Yuzuki (598 Guerrero Street)
Upon being seated you will notice that there are no soy sauce bottles to be found anywhere on the tables. That is because Chef Takashi Saito makes sure that each dish has enough umami flavor by preparing most of the food using “koji,” made from fermented cultured grain or soybean generally used to make sake, miso and soy sauce. Open since 2011, Saito-san may have started the koji trend since it is now a common ingredient at many restaurants across the US, including nearby Bar Tartine. There are many plates to choose from, including otsumami (snack), grilled and crispy items. Each one of the dishes is carefully prepared, flavorful and beautifully presented.
Ramen Izakaya Goku (3232 16th Street)
San Mateo’s Shabuway team is on a tear moving northward and invading the City. They have exclusive rights to operate US outposts of Men-Oh Ramen from Tokushima, Japan which is expanding outwards from the first one opened in the Inner Richmond, right next door to Shabuway. They also opened Waraku Ramen in Japantown. They could have brought Men-Oh or Waraku to the Mission, but they opened Goku instead. The ramen offering between the three are all distinctly different, and Goku’s is a selection of five types, including an interesting clam and garlic version. Several izakaya tapas-style small plates such as wasabi fries, grilled squid or fried shrimp with chili sauce are also available. With no reservations taken, there can be a wait on busy evenings for their reasonably priced Japanese fare, but take note that they are open for lunch on weekends.

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